Store front or the like construction



Sept. 22, 1925. 1,554,170 H. F. A. WACHTER STORE FRONT OR THE LIKE CONSTRUCTION Patented Sept. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FQA. WACHTER, 0F PERU, ILLINOIS.

Application filed May 9,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. A. VVAOH- TER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peru, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented a. certain new and useful Improvement in Store Fronts or the like Construction, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a store-front construction or the like of simple, cheap and durable form; and one which will facilitate assembly of the storefront and obviate the necessity for use therein of a multiplicity of expensive fabricated parts; and which lends itself readily to the provision of ventilating means for the showwindow of the store-front.

The invention consists, essentially, in a store-front construction or the like, having a bed structure which forms the floor of the the show-window of the store-front, and on this bed structure is supported a longitudinal beaded member upon the bead of which is supported a pane of glass or the like, said pane being held in fixed lateral relation to the bead by means of an outside molding and an inside molding arranged against the glass and cooperating with the bead, kerfs being provided in the bead and in the inner molding to form interconnecting passages providing ventilating means for the storefront. And the invention consists, further,

in various details of construction and arrangement and formation of parts, all as I will proceed now more particularly to explain and finally claim.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation, partly in section, of a store-front illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken in the plane of line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail perspective view, on a larger scale, showing the construction used at the lower part of the store-front. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail perspective view showing in part the construction used at the upper part of the storefront. Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which a damper is provided for controlling the ventilating passages and showing the damper in closed position, Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the damper in open position. Fig. 7 is a section showing the construction of Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is 1922. Serial No. 559,629.

a fragmentary perspective view of a modiand supported by the bed structure 1 and ceiling 2 are similar longitudinal beaded members 3 supporting between them a pane of glass or the like 4, the pane resting upon a bead 5 of the lower member, and a packing strip of resilient material 6 being interposed between the lower edge of the pane and the bead 5, if desired, to provide for expansion and contraction of the pane of glass. The pane of glass is held in lateral alignment upon the heads 5 of the members 3 by means of outside moldings 7 and inside moldings 8 which contact with the pane of glass and cooperate with the beads 55.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 7 the longitudinal beaded members are provided with beads upon their upper and lower faces and are thereby inade reversible and interchangeable so that no particular skill is required in their manipuation to properly arrange them for the formation of the desired structure; but, if desired one bead may be omitted and the form of member shown in Fig. 8 used.

If it is desired to ventilate the show-window so as to prevent condensation of moisture upon the glass, I may provide the beads of the moldings adjacent to the pane of glass with kerfs 9 arranged at suitable intervals throughout their length and in order that the air which may enter beneath and above the pane of glass through the kerfs thus formed may be admitted within the show window and against the inner face of the pane of glass, I provide the inside moldings 8 with cooperating kerfs 10 registering and forming communication with the kerfs 9.

For protection of the lower beaded member 3 against the Weather, I may provide it with a suitable metallic sheath 11 extending over its upper face and outer edge and contacting with said outer edge, and in order that ventilation may not be cut off by such sheath, I provide the outer edge of the longitudinal member with kerfs 12 which communicate with the kerfs 9 and 10.

As shown in Figs 5, 6 and 7 I may. if desired, provide a damper for regulating the ventilating effect, this damper, in the form shown, comprising a strip 13 of metal or the like adapted to slide into and out of a recess 14 -formed in the inside molding 8 and adapted to open and close the kerfs 10 of said molding. As a suitable means of operating this damper I provide push rods 15 which may be of any desired length to facilitate the operation of the damper.

As shown, this damper is made in a single piece extending the full width of the store'- front, or show-window, but if desired, it

may be in the form of separate pieces, one

for each kerf 10.

If desired, a similar damper may be provided at the top of the window.

It will be seen that the longitudinal members 3 and the moldings 7 and 8 are all of simple and interchangeable form and preferably are made of wood, though it is conceivable that they may be made of other materials.

Also, it will be apparent that the kerfs 9 may be made in the beads of the members 3 after these members are fixed in place and the keri's may be made in the moldings 8 to correspond in spacing with the kerfs 9 before the moldings are fastened in place.

I have shown my invention as app-lied to the construction of a store-front or show window, but it is obvious that the invention lends itself equally well to the construction of partitions and the like, and although the particular embodiment of my invention shown is the preferred form thereof, I do not intend to be understood as limiting the invention thereto, but contemplate the making of various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What claim is 1. In a store-front construction or the like, a bed structure, a longitudinal beaded member supported thereon and in turn supporting a pane of glass, and a metallic sheath extending over the top and outer side of said beaded member to protect same against the weather, said member being provided with kerfs extending through its bead and through its outer edge, whereby a ventilating' passage is formed beneath Said sheath and beneath said plane of glass.

2. In a store-front construction or the like, a bed structure, a longitudinal beaded member supported thereon, a pane of glass supported upon said bead, a metallic sheath partially covering the top and outer edge of said member, andan inner molding and an outer molding arranged respectively upon opposite sides of said pane, said mem her being provided with kerfs in its outer edge and bead respectively, and the inner molding provided with a kerf registering with the ke-rfs in said member, whereby a ventilating passage is formed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of April, A. D. 1922.

HENRY F. A. WVACHTER 

